Hair, Swabs and Impressions Flashcards
what does alopecia mean?
hair loss
what does otitis mean?
ear infection/inflammation
what does puritis mean?
itchiness
what does pyoderma mean?
skin infection
what does erythema mean?
redness
what does seborrhea mean?
flaky skin
what does pododermatitis mean?
inflammation of skin on paws
- bumblefoot
what does urticaria mean?
hives
what does atopy mean?
allergic skin disease
what does hyperkeratosis mean?
hypertrophy of horny layer of epidermis
what equipment do you need for a tape impression?
Gloves
Clippers
Tape
Slides
Diff Quick
Immersion oil
Microscope
what is the method for tape impression?
Apply tape onto skin area
- make sure not to touch sticky side of tape
Rub tape with thumb nail to ensure good contact
Stick on the slide
Stain with diff-quick
Can be examined under oil immersion for bacteria and yeast
what can be seen with a tape impression?
10 and 40 objective lens
- superficial ectoparasites
- fleas, flea dirt, lice, ear mites and eggs, harvest mite
100 objective lens (oil)
- bacteria (small)
- fungi-spores
- yeasts - eg. malassezia
- some cells - eg. neutrophils
what are the advantages and disadvantages of tape impression?
Advantages
- cheap
- quick
- non-invasive
- good for hard to access areas
Disadvantages
- hard to get large population
- only top layer - no burrowing parasites
what equipment is needed for direct impression?
Gloves
Clippers
Needles
Slides
Diff-quick
Immersion oil
Microscope
what is the method of direct impression?
Used on exudative lesions
- if non–exudative can be ‘picked’ with a needle to express fluid
Gently press the slide onto the lesion
Air-dry
Stain with diff-quick
what can be seen with a direct impression?
100 objective lens (oil)
- Bacteria, Fungi and Yeast
- inflammatory cells - eg neutrophils and eosinophils
- pre-histology smears from biopsies - Mast Cell tumors
what are the advantages and disadvantages of direct impression?
Advantages
- non-invasive
- good for moist lesions
- can detect microorganisms
Disadvantages
- only surface sample
- slide could break
- not possible in difficult to reach areas
what equipment is needed for hair brushing?
Gloves
Hairbrush
White and Brown paper
Paraffin
Slides
Coverslips
Diff-quick
Microscope
what is the method of hair brushing?
Brush hair close to roots
Place sample:
- over white/brown paper
- moistened paper = turns brown if fleas
- in petri dish and liquid paraffin
- on slide with liquid paraffin and cover slip
Examine
what ca be seen with hair brushing?
Best way to get ectoparasites
- harvest mites
- ticks
- lice
- fleas/flea dirt
- ear mites
- surface mites
what are the advantages and disadvantages of hair brushing?
Advantages
- quick
- cheap
- non-invasive
Disadvantages
- only superficial ectoparasites in coat
what equipment is needed for hair plucking?
Gloves
Forceps
Slides
Paraffin
Cover slips
Microscope
what is the method for hair plucking?
Use forceps to pluck hair in an alopecic area
Place onto a slide with paraffin
Evaluate under low power
what can be seen with hair plucking?
demodex
fungal spores
causes of problems
- broken ends = self trauma
- tapered ends = endocrine problems/inflammation
what are the advantages and disadvantages of hair plucking?
Advantages
- can detect demodex and fungal infections
- quick
- easy
- good for hard to access areas
disadvantages
- painful
- temperament needs to be considered
what equipment is needed for skin scrapes?
Gloves
10 blade
Slides
Coverslips
Paraffin
Microscope
what is the method of skin scrapes?
Squeeze prior to scraping
Scrape on skin (superficial)
For deep scape continue until capillary oozing
what can be seen with a skin scrape?
Superficial
- scabies
- lice
- ear mites
deep
- same as superficial
- plus demodex
what are the advantages and disadvantages of skin scrapes?
advantages
- provides sample of epidermis
- only method to diagnose deep parasites
disadvantages
- painful
- may need sedation
- can cause further irritation
- risk of secondary infection
- feasibility depends on location
what equipment is need for a swab sample
Gloves
Plain swabs/ cotton buds
Slides
Cover slips
Diff Quick
Microscope
what is the method for swab sampling?
Rub swab over skin/ gently around external ear
- if dry area swab can add saline/paraffin
Roll swab along slide
- can suspend large earwax in paraffin
Add cover slip
Examine under microscope
what can be seen with a swab sample?
4 or 10 objective lens
- ear mite
100 objective lens (oil)
- fungi/ringworm- moist swab
- yeast (eg Malassezia)
- bacteria
- inflammatory cells
what are the advantages and disadvantages of swab sampling?
advantages
- detect bacteria and fungal infection
- quick
- easy
- good for heard to reach areas
- good for moist or deep lesions
disadvantages
- uncomfortable
- may need sedation
